Wikipedia

Canto Robledo


Canuto Cimental Robledo (January 19, 1913 – November 29, 1999) better known as Canto “TNT” Robledo (Robleto) was a Mexican-American professional boxer, trainer, & manager. Robledo was scheduled to face world bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown in late 1932 but during a tune up fight he was tragically left blind in both eyes. After retiring from boxing for a few years Robledo became best known as being the only licensed blind boxing trainer in the history of the sport. He trained both amateur and professional fighters by what he called his "sense of touch” technique.

Canto Robledo
Born
Canuto Cimental Robledo

January 19, 1913
Tyrone, New Mexico, United States
DiedNovember 29, 1999
Glendora, California, United States
NationalityMexican-American
Other namesTNT/Nitroglicerina
Statistics
Weight classBantamweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights44
Wins29
Wins by KO9
Losses10
Draws5

Early life edit

Canto Robledo was born Canuto Cimental Robledo on January 19, 1913. He was born in Tyrone, New Mexico a small town known for its copper mining. He is the third child of seven from Felipe and Soledad Robledo who immigrated from Cienega De Escobar, Durango Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Canto’s father worked at the mines but in 1921 copper prices dropped thus closing the mines and eventually the town. In 1922 at the age of nine Canto & his family moved west to California to find better opportunities eventually settling in Pasadena, California.

Canto attended Grover Cleveland Elementary and Washington Jr High School, the same schools where Jackie Robinson would later attend. He was an honor student and a superb athlete winning various awards in soccer & track, at age 13 he won the city championship in tennis. After completing the 9th grade Canto dropped out of school due to financial difficulties, he would work picking oranges from the nearby orange groves. He briefly trained boxing with his father for the sake of being able to defend himself, and in 1928 at Brookside Park after a scuffle with a bully a 15-year-old Canto was discovered by local Pasadena boxing promoter Morrie Cohan.

Boxing career edit

Robledo began his training at the Pasadena Arena which was owned and operated by his promoter Morrie Cohan. He would be trained in both the amateur and pro ranks by German Otto. After several months of rigorous training his first bout would take place at the Los Angeles Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament in 1927. The tournament was held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Robledo would go on to win his first bout by split decision and the remaining bouts in his weight class. After turning 16 years old he decided to turn pro and on June 29, 1929 he won his first professional fight which was held at the Main Street Athletic Club versus Johnny Gabucco.

Personal life edit

Robledo married his longtime love Concha Jimenez in 1932, they were a couple for over 60 years until her passing in 1988. They had four children: Gloria Robledo Romero, Raymond “Bobby” Robledo, Irene Robledo Tellez, and Joseph Canto Robledo.

Professional boxing record edit

Boxing Record
Date Opponent Result Place
1932-09-07 Hill Hernandez Won PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-08-26 Rodolfo Teglia Draw Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-08-03 Speedy Dado Lost PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-07-27 Speedy Dado Draw Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-05-04 Ros Dumaguilas Won PTS Civic Ice Arena,Seattle
1932-04-22 Benny Gallup Won KO Stockton
1932-03-11 Young Tommy Lost PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1932-02-12 Young Tommy Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-12-11 Midget Wolgast Lost TKO Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-12-04 Young Sport Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-11-06 Speedy Dado Won PTS Dreamland Auditorium, San Francisco
1931-10-01 Bobby Mars Won KO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1931-09-07 Sid Torres Won RTD Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach
1931-08-31 Sid Torres Won RTD Eastside Arena, Los Angeles
1931-07-15 Johnny Jones Won DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-05-06 Joe Calder Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-04-29 Abie Israel Won DQ Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-04-15 Abie Israel Won PTS Civic Ice Arena, Seattle
1931-03-21 Clever Sencio Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles
1931-02-07 Tony Atizado Won KO Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles
1931-01-23 Peppy Sanchez Won TKO Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-12-01 Young Sport Lost DQ Orange County A.C., Santa Ana
1930-10-31 Speedy Dado Draw Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-09-04 Pete Sarmiento Lost TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-08-08 Midget Wolgast Lost PTS Legion Stadium, Hollywood
1930-06-12 Speedy Dado Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-05-29 Delos 'Kid' Williams Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-05-08 Pedro Villa Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-04-24 Chalky Wright Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-04-15 Emil Jure Won PTS Orange Belt A.C., San Bernardino
1930-03-06 Johnny Jordan Lost DQ Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-02-06 Johnny Navarro Draw Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-01-16 Johnny Navarro Lost RTD Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1930-01-02 Johnny Jordan Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-12-12 Young Sport Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-11-27 Young Sport Lost PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-10-31 Jess Gabuco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-10-24 Mickey Erno Won TKO Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-09-26 Faster Manalo Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-08-22 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-08-08 Jimmy Martinez Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-07-25 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-07-11 Regino Palmini Won PTS Pasadena Arena, Pasadena
1929-06-29 Johnny Gabucco Won PTS Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles

Awards & recognitions edit

  • 1950 – Orv Mohler Award by Pasadena Sports Ambassadors – Humanitarian efforts in the sport of boxing
  • 1956 – Helms Athletic Foundation Award by Southern California Boxing Writers Association
  • 1958 – Mirror Award by the Boxing Association – Contributions to the art & science of boxing
  • 1969 – Order of Eagles Award
  • 1979 – Eyewitness News on ABC – Special segment by Ines Pedroza
  • 1982 – Real People television show on NBC – Season 4 Episode 22 aired March 17,1982 – "Blind Boxing Coach" segment by Byron Allen
  • 1987 – KCOP Sports Star of the Week by KCOP 13 – Honoring extraordinary abilities & his community humanitarian efforts
  • 1988 – Humanitarian Award by the World Boxing Hall of Fame – Humanitarian accomplishments in and outside the ring
  • 1988 – Los Angeles City Proclamation Award by L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich – Efforts for his contributions to the sport of boxing and working with the youth
  • 2005 – World Boxing Hall of Fame, posthumous
  • 2010 – Joe Louis Humanitarian Medal Award by the California State Athletic Commission – For exemplified community affairs for the good of humanity
  • 2010 – Canto Robledo Memorial plaque at Villa Park by Pasadena Mexican American History Association – Honoring his legacy in boxing and community humanitarian efforts.
  • 2017 – Pasadena Sports Hall of Fame, posthumous
  • 2018 – West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame, posthumous

References edit

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34]

  1. ^ Graham, Fredrick (28 June 1929). "Muscle Bound". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  2. ^ Staff Writer (22 October 1929). "Canto to Star in Main Event Thursday". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  3. ^ Staff Writer (31 October 1929). "Canto Robleto Fights Tonight in Effort to Extend Winning Streak. Robleto Makes Initial Main Event Showing". Pasadena Star News.
  4. ^ Staff Writer (30 May 1930). "Great Boxing Show Given at Arena. Every bout Exciting on Card Last Night. Canto has Arrived as Fighter". Pasadena Star News.
  5. ^ Staff Writer (June 12, 1930). "Canto Will Meet Dado. Flyweights will Battle in Main Event at Arena Tomorrow Night". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  6. ^ Staff Writer (13 June 1930). "Robleto And Dado Fight To Draw. Local Boy Makes Great Showing at Arena". Pasadena Star News.
  7. ^ Staff Writer (9 August 1930). "Wolgast Defeats Robleto Easily in Hollywood Go". The Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Staff Writer (5 December 1931). "Robleto Awarded Decision in San Francisco". Oakland Tribune Sports.
  9. ^ Staff Writer (6 December 1931). "Wolgast is Signed with Canto Robleto". The Oakland Tribune Sports.
  10. ^ Piñeda, Mannie (November 1950). "ORV Mohler Memorial Honors Canto Robledo"". Pasadena Star News.
  11. ^ Piñeda, Mannie (February 1951). "Sportingly Yours: You Can See for Yourself Tonight". Pasadena Sports Scene.
  12. ^ Shafer, Bob (August 7, 1952). "On an Undefeated Champion". Pasadena Star News.
  13. ^ Shafer, Bob (25 April 1954). "Hail the Conquering Hero". Pasadena Star News.
  14. ^ Santoreo, Al (17 June 1955). "To the Point: The Blind Man Who Teaches Boxing". Los Angeles Examiner.
  15. ^ Piñeda, Mannie (26 September 1956). "Canto Honored by His Peers: Canto Robledo Honored at Boxing Writers Fete". Independent Star News.
  16. ^ Smith, Robert (3 November 1956). "Canto Holds Benefit Dance for Unfortunate Kids". Independent Star news.
  17. ^ Staff Writer (23 August 1958). "Finals Reached by Joe Robledo". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  18. ^ Staff Writer (30 August 1958). "Robledo Wins Title". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  19. ^ Piñeda, Mannie (14 September 1958). "Canto Robledo Slated for Top Honors at Fair". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  20. ^ Staff Writer (16 May 1959). "Top Amateur Ring Card Slated at Muir Friday". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  21. ^ Twombly, Wells (17 May 1959). "Unselfish Canto Dreams of Champ". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  22. ^ Staff Writer (15 December 1959). "Man of Many Missions". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  23. ^ Pickard, Don (22 September 1964). "Tragedy 'Cornered' Robledo, but He Came Back Swinging". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  24. ^ Allan, John (30 January 1966). "Blind Trainer 'Sees' His Fighters". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ O’Neill, William (April 1968). "A Man of Great Vision"". No. April 1968. Boxing Illustrated.
  26. ^ Libman, Gary (7 October 1973). "Blind Boxing Instructor". Pasadena Independent Star News.
  27. ^ Taub, Sam (October 1974). "Up and Down Old Broadway". The Ring Magazine.
  28. ^ González-Roth, Gloria (20 November 1980). "Canto Robledo: Warrior of the Ring". Q-Vo Magazine.
  29. ^ Hamilton, Judith (4 April 1985). "Blind Trainer Builds Boxers In Backyard". Los Times. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  30. ^ Murray, Jim (13 July 1986). "Refuse To Fall in Line". The Los Angeles Times.
  31. ^ Stephens, Eric (30 November 1999). "Boxing Legend Robledo Was Fixture on Local Scene". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  32. ^ Day, Brian (17 July 2010). "Memorial to Pasadena boxing legend unveiled". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  33. ^ Laurence, Todd. "pashof 2017 inductees". Pasadena Black Pages. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  34. ^ Robledo, Joseph (2018). Blood On The Canvas. Golden Foothills Press. ISBN 9780996963251.
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